1921

4) To begin work on a budget on the basis of the given plan (with the variant of 240 million rubles in gold from emission) immediately.

5) Assignment to Gosplan? Ts. St. U.? or an expanded commission?

6) Deadline — 20. XII.

7) Is it not possible to publish a series of the Financial Commission's foundations?

in particular the calculation (in goods) of the pre-war ruble, etc.

The draft financial plan and emission plan for 1922 was discussed at a session of the Council of People's Commissars on November 5, 1921. V. I. Lenin's proposals formed the basis of the decree adopted by the Council of People's Commissars on this matter.

NOTES TO P. P. GORBUNOV AND A TELEGRAM TO L. B. KRASIN

TO THE NKI OF AFFAIRS
To P. P. Gorbunov:

I request that you verify and report to me precisely:

1) when the decision of the Politburo was sent to Krasin in favor of the proposal of "Foundation Company."

2) A copy of the text sent by you on this matter.

7/XI [1921]
Lenin

P. S. Return this telegram to me.
Lenin

[November 7, 1921]

Comrade Gorbunov! I request that you send to Krasin—

Your dispatch of 1.XI is almost h y s t e r i c a l. You forgot that you yourselves did not even propose yielding to Leslie Urquhardt immediately, and the Politburo decision is very well-considered and is not a refusal.

LENIN COLLECTION

As for Foundation Company, full agreement and an order to hurry were sent to you on 29.X. It is necessary to look after a faster exchange of telegrams between us: the Foreign Trade Apparatus is generally not very good.

Lenin

The published documents were written in connection with a telegram from L. B. Krasin from London of November 1, 1921. In his telegram, L. B. Krasin complained of delays in the appropriation of necessary funds to begin negotiations with the American firm "Foundation Company" and, also citing the fact that the Soviet government had allegedly refused Urquhardt a concession, wrote of the failure by Soviet organs of concession policy, etc. On the proposal of "Foundation Company" and the decision of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b), see this collection, pp. 352—353.

NOTE TO L. B. KAMENEV

Confidential

Comrade Kamenev!

In my view, Chicherin is wrong. As a condition, we must agree to place a requirement that grain goes only to our starving peasants. We decided in the Council of People's Commissars on 5/XI to allocate gold only for 9 million poods (33 - 15 = 18, 18 : 2 = 9²). We must help in every way, even for English junk.

As for security, we will make it a conditional stipulation.

7/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹ The note was written on a letter from G. V. Chicherin in which he reported that the English relief committee for the starving intended to send goods to Ukraine and other places for exchange for grain, so that the grain obtained would be sent to starving regions. Chicherin proposed rejecting this plan, considering that the English would send old goods and fearing attacks by bandits on English agents.

² The figures represent a calculation of seeds required for sowing spring crops in starving provinces in spring 1922. 33 million poods — the required quantity of seeds; of these, 15 million poods the People's Commissariat of Agriculture was supposed to receive from the People's Commissariat of Food Supply; for half of the missing 18 million poods, i.e., for 9 million poods, the Council of People's Commissars allocated gold; the remaining 9 million poods the People's Commissariat of Food Supply was obliged to cover at the expense of above-plan procurements.

1921

NOTE TO D. B. RYAZANOV

[November 9, 1921]

Comrade Ryazanov

Dear Comrade! Thank you very much for your letter, book, and photograph. I am returning the latter.

I will request the Engels brochure on Schelling when I finish with the letters of Lassalle to Marx. If it becomes available to you sooner, I will be very grateful for its shipment.

I will transmit the proposal to the Central Committee² to members of the Politburo.

With comm. greetings, Lenin

¹ The note is a response to a letter from the director of the Institute of K. Marx and F. Engels, D. B. Ryazanov, in which he reported on the results of his trip abroad to acquire published works and manuscripts of K. Marx and F. Engels. Along with his letter, D. B. Ryazanov sent V. I. Lenin a photocopy of the "Theses on Feuerbach" and proofs of the third volume of the correspondence of F. Lassalle, mentioned in the note.

² This refers to Ryazanov's proposal to establish a commission to examine issues connected with the work of the Institute of K. Marx and F. Engels, as well as the publishing activities of the Comintern.

NOTE TO G. M. KRZHIZHANOVSKY

To G. M. Krzhizhanovsky

I request an assessment from 1—2 reliable and knowledgeable people¹.

9/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹ The note was written on the "Theses for a Report on the Reorganization of the People's Commissariat of Transportation," compiled by S. D. Markov, who was at that time head of the Caucasian Railway District. Drawing on the positive experience of the Vladikavkaz Railway, Markov proposed to transfer transportation to an economic-commercial basis. In January 1922, the Council of People's Commissars adopted a decree "On the Application of Principles of Economic Accounting in Transportation" (see "Izvestiya VTsIK" No. 13, January 18, 1922).

LENIN COLLECTION

NOTE TO V. M. MIKHAILOV

Comrade Mikhailov!

I propose: to approve in principle and introduce into the Council of People's Commissars¹.

Lenin

9/XI [1921]

¹ V. I. Lenin's proposal was written on the "Protocol of the Commission on the Procedure for Considering Concessions" of November 2, 1921. Having heard the report of the commission, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) decided to direct the matter to the Council of People's Commissars. On November 15, 1921, the Council of People's Commissars, having examined the question of concentrating all concession matters in a special commission, adopted, with certain amendments, the proposed project.

NOTE TO V. M. MIKHAILOV WITH A DRAFT DECREE OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)

Comrade Mikhailov! I propose to send this in circulation to members of the Politburo.

My personal opinion: r e j e c t the entire plan of V. Milyutin as completely worthless and utterly unfounded.

I propose: to reject. ✓

Lenin

9/XI [1921]

¹ The document was written on a letter from G. V. Chicherin to the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) in which he reported that at the Baltic Economic Conference (held in Riga on October 28—31, 1921), the question of denationalization of the foreign trade of Soviet Russia was raised. The Chairman of the RSFSR delegation at the conference, V. P. Milyutin, presented a report on this question, which was sent to the Politburo. Milyutin's plan amounted to the denationalization of foreign trade.

On November 10, 1921, the Politburo discussed the issue and rejected Milyutin's proposal.

1921

NOTE TO V. M. MIKHAILOV WITH A DRAFT DECREE OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b) ON FOOD WORK IN UKRAINE

9/XI [1921]

Comrade Mikhailov!

I request that you send this in circulation to members of the Politburo and return it to me.

I propose a decree of the Politburo.

The Politburo points out to the CC of the Communist Party of Ukraine that the complete collection of foodstuffs in Ukraine, i.e., 100%, has absolutely fundamental importance for the RSFSR. Likewise the delivery to us of 57 million poods. It charges: to work out immediately a series of the most energetic measures for achieving this goal and to report on all decisions.

On the progress of collection and shipment of foodstuffs to the RSFSR, report brief summary data by telephone twice a month.

Lenin

¹ The draft decree on food work in Ukraine, proposed by V. I. Lenin, was adopted by the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on November 10, 1921.

RESOLUTION ON A LETTER FROM G. V. CHICHERIN¹

Place in the Politburo.

Perhaps agree, if we receive medicines without unacceptable conditions.

Lenin

12/XI [1921]

¹ In his letter to the Politburo of the CC RCP(b), G. V. Chicherin, reporting that the People's Commissariat of Health and the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade are inquiring about the proposal of the League of Nations to transfer medicines and other means of combating epidemics to the People's Commissariat of Health, asked the Politburo to decide in principle: is it permissible for Soviet organs to enter into contact with any commission of the League of Nations, which does not include the RSFSR. On November 17, 1921, the Politburo instructed Chicherin to accept the proposal of the epidemic commission of the League of Nations, having worked out such a form of declaration that would exclude interpretation as recognition by Soviet Russia of the League of Nations as a legitimate international organization.

LENIN COLLECTION

NOTE TO N. I. BUKHARIN¹

Comrade Bukharin! Please read this. We ought (independently of this particular article, although it seems rather good) to print more Indian comrades' materials, in order to encourage them and to gather more information about India and its revolutionary movement.

Lenin

14/XI [1921]

¹ The note was written on a letter from Indian communist Abani Mukerjee, who sent V. I. Lenin his article on the Malabar Uprising in India in 1921.

NOTES TO V. M. MOLOTOV

Comrade Molotov! How is this matter proceeding?

§§ 4 and 5, in my view, are h a r m f u l.

Return this to me, please, with a couple of words of commentary¹.

Lenin

14/XI [1921]

19. XI. 1921

Comrade Molotov!

I am moving this question to the Politburo.

In general it is incorrect to decide such questions in the Orgburo³; this is a purely political, entirely political question.

And it must be decided differently.

I request that you have the secretary type on one sheet both the old and new versions.

(1) It is necessary, in my view, to repeal § 4.

(2) — to strengthen judicial responsibility of Communists.

(3) "opinions" of the Party Committee to permit only with direction to the center and w i t h  v e r i f i c a t i o n  b y  t h e  C C C².

Lenin

¹ The note was written by V. I. Lenin on a letter from N. V. Krylenko, member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Justice, on the question of relations between party and judicial-investigative organs. The People's Commissariat of Justice requested exclusion from a circular of the Central Committee on this question of paragraphs 4 and 5.

§ 4 — established the obligatory nature for judicial authorities of releasing on personal surety Communists brought to trial under the personal guarantee of persons authorized by party committees.

§ 5 — established the obligatory nature for a party committee, upon becoming familiar with a case within three days, to have an opinion on the merits of the case, so that the decision of the committee would be a party directive for the court and would predetermine the judicial decision.

In response to his first note, V. I. Lenin received a decree of the Orgburo of the CC RCP(b) of November 11, 1921, and notification that the circular had been changed and the matter could be considered concluded. In connection with this, V. I. Lenin wrote the second note.

The question of relations between administrative-judicial organs and party committees was discussed at a session of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on November 24, 1921. The Politburo instructed D. I. Kursky to review the entire circular as a whole in the direction of increasing responsibility for party members in the event of being brought to trial on general criminal matters and "eliminating any possibility of using the position of the ruling party to weaken responsibility."

On December 8, the Politburo accepted in substance D. I. Kursky's proposal and appointed a commission for final editing of the circular.

REMARKS ON THE DRAFT DECREE "ON THE INTRODUCTION OF NEWSPAPER PAYMENTS"

It is necessary to supplement either with a series of §§ on control (s t r i c t) over free distribution,

or to oblige by special instruction (one § about it)¹.

15/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹ The decree "On the Introduction of Newspaper Payments" was approved by the Council of People's Commissars on November 28, 1921. According to the decree, payment for newspapers was to be collected both from private individuals, public institutions and organizations, and from state institutions and enterprises without exception. V. I. Lenin's proposal formed the basis of point 8 of the decree, which placed upon the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment the obligation within two weeks to develop and publish an instruction on control over the correct distribution of newspapers through the network of educational institutions and the supply of newspapers to the working masses (see "Izvestiya VTsIK" No. 275, December 7, 1921).

LENIN COLLECTION

NOTE TO THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)¹

Since the materials of the commission that had already worked in Tula have been brought to Moscow, as Bogdanov writes, I am in favor of their preliminary review here, that is, in favor of Bogdanov's proposal.

Lenin

16/XI [1921]

¹ The note was written in connection with a proposal to send a commission to Tula to inspect military factories. The Chairman of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, P. A. Bogdanov, objected to this and proposed first to discuss the materials of the commission of the Supreme Council of the National Economy and the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, which had already inspected the Tula factories, and then to decide on sending a new commission.

NOTE TO L. K. MARTENS¹

CONFIDENTIAL

Comrade Martens!

Notify Petrograd and Foreign Trade without fail. Without triple verification nothing will be ready and we will create a scandal.

Place in the Bureau and in the Small Council of People's Commissars on measures for preparation.

Lenin

17/XI [1921]

¹ V. I. Lenin's note was written in response to L. K. Martens' report that the first ship with wheat under the agreement with A. Hammer was departing from New York on November 17, 1921. See also this collection, p. 341.

LETTER TO THE VChK¹

To the VChK
Copy to the People's Commissariat of Finance

November 18, 1921

For the purpose of concentrating in one place all valuables currently stored in various state institutions, I propose that within 3 days of receipt hereof, all valuable items currently at the disposal of the VChK be handed over to the State Treasury.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from a typescript copy

On the same day, V. I. Lenin sent a letter of similar content to the Moscow Extraordinary Commission.

NOTE TO V. M. MOLOTOV

[Between November 18 and 22, 1921]

Comrade Molotov! Where did you get this (sent to me) platform of the "collectivists"? I have not yet read it, but I see quite a bit that is strange. Who are these? Names? Where was it published? Where is it distributed? By whom? Who stands behind this? Names? Part of the Samara people and who? or not only Samara people?¹

Lenin

The platform "We — Collectivists" — an anonymous document expressing the views of a small part of the intelligentsia; was issued for the II All-Russian Congress of Proletkult, which took place in Moscow in November 1921. The authors of the platform openly spoke out against the policy of the Communist Party and the Soviet government; in the platform the socialist character of the October Revolution was cast in doubt; in the field of philosophy Machist, Bogdanov "theories" were extolled; on political questions the "collectivists" sided with the "Workers' Opposition." The Communist faction of the II Congress of Proletkult categorically condemned the "collectivists'" platform and decisively distanced itself from them.

When speaking of the "Samara people," V. I. Lenin had in mind part of the members of the Samara Provincial Committee of the party who held a platform close to the "Workers' Opposition."

See also this collection, pp. 369—370.

RECOMMENDATION TO YA. S. GANETSKY

I have known Comrade Ganetsky since 1903, when he was the representative of Polish Social Democracy at our party congress.

LENIN COLLECTION

I knew him subsequently all the time as a Polish CC member. I observed him closely in 1912—1914, when we lived together in Krakow. Comrade Ganetsky traveled from there repeatedly on illegal work in Poland, carrying out CC work both in emigration and in Russia. I fully recommend him to the party.

Member of the CC RCP V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

21. XI. 1921.

INSTRUCTION TO THE SECRETARY ON A LETTER FROM A MEMBER OF THE VTsIK I. A. PETRUSHKIN

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
Comrade LENIN

Member of the VTsIK from the non-party peasants
Petrushkin

REQUEST

In order to share with you the impressions I have received during assignments to Vladimir, Cherepovets, Rybinsk provinces, and others, as well as to convey the requests which were transmitted to me by peasant-grain farmers in your name — I request that you spare me a few minutes to present a brief report to your attention, for I, as a peasant and representative of peasants, should very much like to see you.

I understand perfectly well that you are extremely busy, but nonetheless I venture to ask you to spare me a few minutes of your time and to set an hour for a visit.

My address: House of Soviets. Room — 312.
Telephone — 2-06-82 — extension — 312.

With comradely greetings,

Member of the VTsIK Ivan Petrushkin

22/XI—21

Schedule for Friday 12 o'clock tentatively; verify in the GPU¹.

23/XI [1921]
Lenin

¹ V. I. Lenin received I. A. Petrushkin on November 30, 1921.

1921

LETTER TO V. M. MOLOTOV

26. XI. 1921.

Comrade Molotov! Is it not possible to try to decide by telephone in the Politburo 2 questions:

1) To appoint Sokolnikov as member of the collegium of the People's Commissariat of Finance and member of the Financial Commission on condition that he remains chairman of the Turkestan Bureau and is obliged to travel to Turkestan as necessary, pending complete normalization there. (If there is no majority for this, then I am forced to move it to discussion before the entire Politburo.)

2) Today we hastily rejected my proposal¹ and I agreed to refuse it. But now I see that I was hasty and renew it:

To charge 1) Pyatakov; 2) Rukhimovich²; 3) Bogdanov (or his deputy Smilga) — to present within 2 weeks to the Politburo a plan (or statute or theses) on the relations between the Provincial Economic Councils and major enterprises located in the given province and subordinate to the center in Moscow directly.

[We ourselves will not draw this up. The question is universal. We will have to consult all the people's commissariats. It needs to be worked out quickly. Begin with the Donetsk Provincial Economic Council.]³

Lenin

¹ V. I. Lenin had in mind his proposal in connection with the discussion at a session of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) of disagreements between workers in the Donbas.

² M. L. Rukhimovich — Chairman of the Donetsk Provincial Executive Committee.

V. I. Lenin's proposals on the first and second questions were adopted by the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on November 27, 1921.

AMENDMENT TO PROPOSALS ON THE CREATION OF A COMMISSION FOR DETERMINING WAGE FUND

I propose the following amendment: in § II 4 rework the beginning in the following manner:

"The Tariff Commission, formed by decree of the Council of People's Commissars of 10. XI (Kamenev, Schmidt, Preobrazhensky)², preserve, charging it with control over the commission on wage fund... (and further as in the text)... Without permission of the Tariff Commission, increase in tariffs is not permissible."

Lenin

29/XI [1921]

¹ The amendment relates to the project of a commission created by decree of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) of November 26, 1921, which was instructed to consider the proposal of the People's Commissariat of Food Supply on food allowance norms, as well as to clarify the question of the necessity of creating a commission for determining wage funds. The commission proposed abolishing the Tariff Commission and creating instead a Central Wage Fund Committee under the Council of Labor and Defense. On December 1, 1921, the commission project with V. I. Lenin's amendment was adopted by the Politburo of the CC RCP(b).

² In the manuscript there is a clerical error; the indicated commission was created by decree of the Council of People's Commissars of November 1, 1921.

NOTE TO A. A. BELOV¹

30/XI [1921]

Comrade Belov! I agree with you in idea.

Move this practically, that is, give a draft decree (perhaps it would be better this way: first select the people, and then the draft decree).

In my view, it is not necessary to leave the party. I am opposed.

In the U n i v e r s a l  S t o r e you must remain and develop it exemplarily.

With comm. greetings, Lenin

P. S. Regarding release from the Small Council, give me Kiselev's assessment.

The document was apparently written in connection with the question of permitting the State Universal Store (GUM) to work jointly with foreign capitalists in the field of export-import trade and the establishment for this purpose of a partnership.

See also this collection, p. 299.

A. A. Belov — Manager of GUM.

1921

DRAFT OF A DECREE OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b) ON THE VChK¹

[December 1, 1921]

1st: narrow the competence
2nd arrest even narrower rights
3rd term < — 1 month²
4th strengthen courts or courts only
5th name
6th through the VTsIK carry through serious mitigations.

¹ V. I. Lenin's proposals were approved on December 1, 1921, by the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) as directives for a commission created to discuss the question of the VChK. They also found reflection in the "Resolution on the VChK," adopted by the IX All-Russian Congress of Soviets. The Congress instructed the Presidium of the VTsIK to review the "Statute on the VChK and its Organs." On February 6, 1922, the Presidium of the VTsIK adopted a decree abolishing the VChK. By the same decree, the State Political Administration was formed under the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the RSFSR and Political Departments at the local level, and their tasks and rights were determined (see "Izvestiya VTsIK" No. 30, February 8, 1922).

² This refers to the deadline for the general conduct of cases.

LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)

2/XII [1921]

To the Members of the Politburo

Having now read the platform "We — Collectivists" (Forwardists, Bogdanovists, Proletcultists, etc.)¹ in its entirety, I come finally to the conclusion that it is absolutely useful for us and necessary to print it as a brochure in 2—3 thousand copies with the m o s t  t h o r o u g h  criticism, with the addition of an article on Bogdanov's political utterances in 1917, etc.

LENIN COLLECTION

I propose to commission this brochure to a n u m b e r  o f  a u t h o r s under the editorship of Bukharin, charging him to distribute various sections to different authors, to receive their manuscripts within 2 weeks, and to s h o w  t h e  P o l i t b u r o  i n  p r o o f s². (This is needed also a b r o a d .)

1) Circulars of the Central Committee on Proletcults³.
2) "We — Collectivists."
3) Bukharin's article from Pravda
4) another series of articles with analysis of the platform.

Lenin

¹ On this question, see this collection, p. 365.
² V. I. Lenin's proposal on the publication of a brochure exposing the "collectivists'" platform was adopted by the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on December 3, 1921.

A. Bogdanov (A. A. Malinovsky) — one of the ideologists of Proletkult.

³ Apparently this refers to the letter of the CC RCP(b) "On Proletcults" (see "Pravda" No. 270, December 1, 1920) and the decree of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on Proletcults of November 22, 1921, published in "Izvestiya of the CC RCP(b)" No. 36, 1921.

⁴ See "Pravda" No. 263, November 22, 1921.

NOTE TO THE VChK

Top secret

2/XII 1921

VChK

I request that you send me secretly through Comrade Gorbunov a report on what state the affairs in the State Treasury are in.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin

1921

DRAFT DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE ON A COMMISSION FOR THE UTILIZATION OF MATERIAL RESOURCES

[December 2, 1921]

a) To adopt as a basis the Gosplan project and to charge it within a week to present a reworked project with correction of §§ 2 and 3, as well as the results of the work provided for in § 5.¹

¹ This refers to a draft decree prepared by Gosplan of the Council of Labor and Defense on the liquidation of the Commission for the Utilization of Material Resources under the Council of Labor and Defense in connection with the New Economic Policy and the necessity to change the procedure for the distribution of material resources among state institutions and enterprises.

V. I. Lenin's proposal was adopted at a session of the Council of Labor and Defense on December 2, 1921. The reworked Gosplan draft decree on the Commission for the Utilization of Material Resources was approved by the Council of Labor and Defense on December 16, 1921. See also the Lenin Collections: XXIII, pp. 243—244 and XXXV, pp. 295—296.

LETTER TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE, PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF FINANCE, SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY, PEOPLE'S COMMISSARIAT OF ENLIGHTENMENT

December 5, 1921

People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade — Comrade Lezhava
People's Commissariat of Finance — Comrade Alsky
Supreme Council of the National Economy — Comrade Bogdanov
People's Commissariat of Enlightenment — Comrade Litkens

To Comrade Voyevodine¹

An authorized representative of the Italian cinematographic firm Cito-Cinema, Communist Comrade Carotti, arrived in Moscow, with whom our Italian representation had conducted preliminary negotiations regarding a concession to shoot and purchase films in Russia and to exploit these films in Italy.

A basis for negotiations with Comrade Carotti can be the draft agreement he has, which leaves a wide field for making in it the necessary changes.

According to the report of the authorized representative of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade in Italy — the firm Cito-Cinema is a solid Italian cinematographic enterprise, which is financed by the Italian Bank of Discount and about which there should be a report in the Financial and Accounting Administration of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade.

I consider this matter extremely important and u r g e n t.

I charge you to immediately establish a meeting to consider the proposal of Comrade Carotti, to clarify the entire matter and to work out an appropriate decree of the Council of Labor and Defense.

The convening of the meeting and report to the Council of Labor and Defense on Wednesday, December 7 — is the responsibility of Comrade Voyevodine.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from the original signed by V. I. Lenin

¹ P. I. Voyevodine at this time managed the All-Russian Photo-Cinematographic Section of the People's Commissariat of Enlightenment.

ON THE DRAFT DECREE OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)¹

[December 5, 1921]

It is charged to the Supreme Council of the National Economy to preserve in the management of the mills the basic group of specialists (by indication of the Supreme Council of the National Economy) and to fulfill, under the control of the Supreme Council of the National Economy, the program of repairs of major mills.

The draft was written by V. I. Lenin in connection with the discussion at a session of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on December 5, 1921, of a complaint from the Supreme Council of the National Economy regarding the decree of the Council of Labor and Defense on the transfer of mills from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of the National Economy to the People's Commissariat of Food Supply. The Politburo confirmed the decision of the Council of Labor and Defense and proposed that the Small Council of People's Commissars adopt an additional decree, submitted by V. I. Lenin.

LETTER TO M. G. TSKAKAYA¹

[December 6, 1921]

Dear Comrade Mikha!

I received your letter about Makharadze². I am very sorry that I cannot have a talk. I am tired and ill. I am leaving. Forgive me and convey my best greetings to Comrade Philip Makharadze.

Your Lenin

¹ M. G. Tskakaya — Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

² What letter this refers to could not be established.

1921

LETTER TO I. V. STALIN

Comrade Stalin

Comrade Stalin, I request that you spare Comrade Meranvil, who works in the Commissariat for Workers' and Peasants' Inspection, some 15 minutes, though he is known (though very slightly) as a member of the Small Council. He was expelled from the party and, according to his account, a gross injustice was committed, inasmuch as they did not wish to question a whole series of witnesses indicated by him. Meranvil came to see me on one matter long before the purge began, and told me that he had been in one foreign circle long before the revolution. I could not remember this. It is certainly possible to find people who are able to verify this fact. Please, send the answer to me through Fotieva.

Lenin

9/XII—21

Dictated over the telephone
Printed from a typescript copy

LETTER TO V. M. MOLOTOV FOR MEMBERS OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b)

12. XII. 21

Comrade Molotov for members of the Politburo in circulation.

Krestinsky writes me that Gorky left Riga with no money whatsoever and is building his prospects on receiving from Stomiakov an author's honorarium for the publication of his books. Krestinsky thinks it necessary to include Gorky in the number of comrades being treated abroad at the expense of the party or the Soviet government. I propose to carry through the Politburo Krestinsky's proposal to include Gorky in the number of such comrades and to verify that he is fully provided with the sum necessary for treatment¹.

Lenin

Printed from a typescript copy

On December 21, 1921, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) approved V. I. Lenin's proposal.

See also Lenin Collection XXXV, p. 332.

QUESTIONNAIRE OF A DELEGATE TO THE XI ALL-RUSSIAN CONFERENCE OF THE RCP(b)

RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY (OF BOLSHEVIKS)

Proletarians of all countries, unite!

PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR DELEGATES
... THE XI ALL-RUSSIAN CONFERENCE
OF THE RCP (BOLSHEVIKS)

1. Surname, name, 
patronymic........  Ulyanov (Lenin) Vladimir
Ilyich

2. With what status (decisive or consultative) do you participate

3. Delegate ticket No........  1

4. Delegated by what organization........... CC RCP

5. At what All-Russian party conferences and congresses have you participated with decisive status:
at.......... all except 1898 and summer 1917.......... congresses, at...........
probably almost all.......... conferences.

6. Year of birth: .......... 1870........... year.

7. Nationality.......... Russian

8. Education (elementary, secondary, higher).

9. a) Main profession and specialty before 1917........... writer
b) How many years worked in this profession: from 1894 to 1917,
i.e., 23..........  years.

10. a) Main source of income before 1914........... literary earnings and support from the party
b) in 1914—1917......... the same
c) in 1917—1921...... the same until 25.X. 1917. After 25/X support from the Soviet government.

11. What Soviet work are you performing at the present time. Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and Council of Labor and Defense

12. What participation do you take at the present time:
a) in Soviet work
b) in public work} I do not take actual participation

Russian Communist Party (of Bolsheviks).
Proletarians of all countries, unite!

PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE ... OF DELEGATES TO THE XI CONFERENCE RCP(b).

1. Surname, name, patronymic
2. With what status (decisive or consultative) do you participate
3. Delegate ticket No.
4. Delegated by what organization
5. At what All-Russian party conferences and congresses have you participated with decisive status: at __ congresses, at __ conferences.
6. Year of birth:
7. Nationality
8. Education (elementary, secondary, higher)
9. a) Main profession and specialty before 1917
b) How many years worked in this profession:
10. a) Main source of income before 1914
b) in 1914—1917...:
c) in 1917—1921...:
11. What Soviet work are you performing at the present time
12. What participation do you take at the present time:
a) in Soviet work
b) in public work

[Facsimile of questionnaire filled out by V. I. Lenin]

XI All-Russian Conference of the RCP(b),
filled out by V. I. Lenin.
December 11, 1921.

1921

13. What party work are you performing at the present time......... member of the CC RCP

14. When did you enter the RCP: in ...........1895 ............. year.

15. Were you previously in other parties, when, which......... no

16. Were you subjected to repression for revolutionary activity (when)
arrest and exile in 1887; arrest and banishment to East Siberia 1895(XII)—1900.

How long did you spend:
1) in prison.......... several days in 1900; 14 months, 1895—1897.
2) on hard labor ........... was not
3) in banishment ............three years (Yenisei province, Minusinsk district).
4) in emigration ...........1900—1905 and 1908—1917

Signature ............V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Date _______ December ......1921

Printed from the questionnaire blank completed by V. I. Lenin

LETTER TO THE HEAD OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATION FOR FUEL OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY I. T. SMILGA

14/XII — 21

TO THE HEAD OF THE CHIEF FUEL ADMINISTRATION

Comrade Smilga

Copy — Glavbum

Despite my postal telegram of December 2, No. 1160, and the assurances of the Deputy Head of the Chief Fuel Administration, Comrade Trifonov, in telegram No. 15062 of December 3, that "with regard to the Kondrovskaya factory all measures have been taken and railway assignments to the factory will be fulfilled in full" — according to the report of Glavbum — the Kondrovskaya factory on December 8 stopped from noon due to lack of fuel.

I propose to take immediate emergency measures to supply fuel to the indicated factory and to clarify who is guilty of not fulfilling my directive of December 2 and of presenting me with false information.

Send me a written report on the execution.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense
V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Printed from a typescript copy

NOTE TO L. B. KAMENEV

Comrade Kamenev!

I am sending you this letter¹ in addition to our last conversation. I consider it absolutely necessary that as many CC members as possible become personally acquainted with Yakovenko at the forthcoming congress². Transmit this letter, please, to all members of the Orgburo first of all, and then make other CC members familiar with it. Ask Molotov, when he has read this letter, to call me.

17/XII—21
Lenin

Dictated over the telephone
Printed from a typescript copy

¹ This refers to a letter from I. A. Teodorovich, in which he recommended for the position of People's Commissar of Agriculture of the RSFSR the Chairman of the Kansk District Executive Committee, Yenisei Province, V. G. Yakovenko. See also this collection, p. 382.

² This refers to the IX All-Russian Congress of Soviets, which took place on December 23—28, 1921.

1921

TELEPHONOGRAM TO I. V. STALIN

Comrade Stalin

Is a revision being conducted with you of the Livestock Section and Gukona, and if so, can you report to me in a couple of words the results of it, both generally and specifically regarding the period when Teodorovich was in charge. Send it secretly in the name of Fotieva.

Lenin

19/XII. 21

Dictated over the telephone
Printed from the secretary's notes

TELEPHONOGRAM TO I. A. TEODOROVICH

Comrade Teodorovich!

Since the question of disagreements in the People's Commissariat of Agriculture has been submitted to the Central Committee Plenum and will be examined shortly, I request that you send me secretly, in the name of Fotieva, today by 8 p.m., all available materials, especially those relating to the accusations of "collapse" of the Livestock Section and Gukona, as well as regarding weak administration in the People's Commissariat of Agriculture generally. By the indicated time today, I request a short note, and in more detail by Wednesday at 12 o'clock, also in the name of Fotieva.

Lenin

19/XII. 21, 4 p.m.

Dictated over the telephone
Printed from the secretary's notes

LETTER TO P. A. ZALUTSKY AND A. A. SOLTS¹

Comrade Zalutsky and Comrade Solts

Word has reached me of the expulsion from the party of Nadezhda Sergeevna Allilueva. I personally observed her work as secretary in the Office of Affairs of the Council of People's Commissars, that is, it was very close to me.

LENIN COLLECTION

However, I consider it necessary to point out that I have known the entire Allilueva family, that is, the father, mother, and two daughters, since the period before the October Revolution. In particular, during the July Days, when Zinoviev and I had to hide and the danger was very great, it was this family that hid me, and all four of them, enjoying the full trust of the Bolsheviks of the party at that time, not only hid both of us but also rendered a whole series of conspiratorial services, without which we would not have been able to escape from Kerensky's secret police. It is quite possible that, owing to the youth of Nadezhda Sergeevna Allilueva, this circumstance remained unknown to the commission. I also do not know whether the commission, in reviewing the case of Nadezhda Sergeevna Allilueva, had the opportunity to compare information about her father, who worked in various capacities to assist the party long before the revolution, rendering, as I have heard, serious services to the illegal Bolsheviks under Tsarism.

I consider it my duty to bring these circumstances to the attention of the Central C o m m i s s i o n  f o r  P a r t y  P u r i f i c a t i o n².

Lenin

December 20, 1921

Dictated over the telephone
Printed from a typescript copy

¹ P. A. Zalutsky — Chairman of the Central Commission for Verification of Party Membership (Central Verification Commission).
A. A. Solts — member of the Central Verification Commission.

² N. S. Allilueva was restored to the party.

LETTER TO P. A. ZALUTSKY AND A. A. SOLTS

Comrade Zalutsky and Comrade Solts

Comrade Kasparova-Popova has appealed to me (address: House of Soviets, apt. 63, tel. 58—97). She writes that she is in absolute despair over her expulsion from the party and asks me to intercede with the Central Commission for Party Purification for a thorough review of her case, citing her brother Slava Kasparov and her husband Popov, who was sent by Comrade Sverdlov to the Far East and died there. She writes that together with her brother from the age of 14 she began to take interest in the party and entered student circles, and from age 17 entered the party and performed purely technical work.

I do not know this Kasparova personally or have forgotten her, but I knew her brother very well abroad, where he was in emigration after the first 1905 revolution, was a member of the Bolshevik organization, enjoyed the deserved respect of all Bolsheviks with whom I had occasion to meet, who observed Kasparov's work. This Kasparov died in Switzerland before the revolution of 1917 (having been broken down by the difficult conditions of emigrant life).

I will try to gather information about who could have known the Kasparov sisters more closely.

For my part, I request that the Central Commission for Party Purification review the case of the expulsion of Comrade Kasparova from the party¹.

Lenin

December 20, 1921 at 8 p.m.

Dictated over the telephone
Printed from a typescript copy

¹ E. M. Popova (Kasparova) was restored to the party.

TELEPHONOGRAM REGARDING THE DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE XI CONFERENCE OF THE RCP(b) ON PARTY PURIFICATION

Regarding Zalutsky's draft resolution on party purification¹, I would like to make two remarks.

1) Under section 3, § a, Zalutsky proposes temporarily, for 6 months, to close access to the party. I think this is incorrect. I would propose, for my part — not to close access, but to place more strict conditions, namely: a lengthy probationary period. If the one-and-a-half-year period for actual workers is found too long, then it can be shortened and in general one can allow shortening of this period to 3/4 year or even to six months, as Trotsky proposes. But, in my view, with such short periods it is necessary to require a qualified majority in the collegiums making decisions about admission, for instance, that a majority of no less than 4/5 be required so that the admission period be shortened, and this 4/5 majority must be required not from one party collegium (the lowest cell conducting the admission), but from several collegiums for mutual verification (for example, besides the lowest cell also from the Provincial Party Committee, etc.). I would not object at all to easing admission to the party for actual workers, but if we do not place e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y  s t r i c t  conditions determining who can be considered a worker in large industry, then through this hole an enormous mass of riff-raff will immediately crawl through again. Regarding Red Army men, in my view, more strict conditions are necessary, for this is, first, mostly not workers but peasants, and second, these are people too young, who must still be tested by experience.

2) In section 4, § a, Zalutsky proposes to review the planned work among the Komsomol. It seems to me that on this point it is necessary to establish more strict conditions and verification that the party members included from the Komsomol, first, have actually studied seriously and learned something, and second, that they have gone through a lengthy period of serious practical work (economic, cultural, etc.).

Lenin

22/XII—21

Dictated over the telephone
Printed from a typescript copy

This refers to the draft resolution of the XI All-Russian Conference of the RCP(b) based on the report on the preliminary results of party purification. The Conference, which took place December 19—22, 1921, adopted as a basis the resolution "On the Question of Strengthening the Party, in Connection with the Experience of Verification of Its Personnel." The resolution, after reworking, was approved by the CC RCP(b) and the XI Congress of the party.

See also "Letter to Members of the Politburo on Party Purification and Conditions for Admission to the Party" (V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, 4th edition, volume 33, p. 113).

1921

NOTE TO G. YA. SOKOLNIKOV¹

Comrade Sokolnikov!

I am sending you this confidentially².

I think that Safarov (at l e a s t  i n  p a r t) is right.

I very much request that you conduct an objective investigation, so as not to allow intrigue, gossip, and revenge to spoil the work in Turkestan.

Scratch me 2 words.

Greetings! Lenin

22. XII [1921]

¹ G. Ya. Sokolnikov was appointed by decree of the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) as Chairman of the Turkestan Bureau of the CC RCP(b) and the Turkestan Commission of the VTsIK and Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR.

² This refers to a letter from G. I. Safarov to V. I. Lenin in which he wrote about the distortion of the party's national policy in Turkestan. On December 22, 1921, the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) created a special commission to consider the question of Turkestan affairs. In January 1922, the Politburo approved a "Circular Letter of the CC RCP to the Communist Party of Turkestan" (see "Zhizn Nacionalnostey" No. 3, January 26, 1922). The draft of the circular was approved by V. I. Lenin (see Lenin Collection XXXV, pp. 312—315). See also the next document and this collection, pp. 305—306.

LETTER TO G. I. SAFAROV¹

24/XII [1921]

Comrade Safarov!

Do not get nervous, this is inadmissible and shameful, not a 14-year-old girl.

I have transmitted your letters to Sokolnikov, whom I will propose in the Central Committee to send to Turkestan to sort out the matter.

I spoke with Sokolnikov and established (entre nous!*) his agreement that the business started against you is nonsense.

* — between us!

Do not get nervous.

Continue work, do not leave from anywhere. Be able to collect materials against those who have started this absurd business in a business-like and calm manner.

Your Lenin

Printed from the secretary's notes

¹ This document is a response by V. I. Lenin to letters from G. I. Safarov. In a letter of December 20, 1921, Safarov informed V. I. Lenin that in connection with the review in the Central Control Commission of materials on his activities in Turkestan, he had submitted a statement to the Central Committee that he was withdrawing from any responsible work. G. I. Safarov at this time worked at the Comintern as a consultant on Eastern questions.

LETTER TO E. M. YAROSLAVSKY

24/XII. 1921

Comrade Yaroslavsky!

I request that you give yourself and collect from all responsible and influential Siberian comrades here assessments of the peasant Yakovenko (seemingly the head of the Kansk District Executive Committee, Yenisei Province). The assessments should be more detailed. For the purpose of discussion in the Central Committee of the question of appointing Yakovenko as People's Commissar of Agriculture¹.

Age? — About 40 years.

Experience? — Direct acquaintance with Soviet work.

Respect of the peasantry? — Great.

Knowledge of economy? — A middle peasant, has not managed a very large farm.

Firmness? — An authoritarian, firm man.

Mind? — Smart, shrewd.

Devotion to Soviet Power? — Devotion proved during the period of the partisan struggle and later.

I very much request that this be done q u i c k l y and properly.

Lenin

¹ V. G. Yakovenko was elected at the IX All-Russian Congress of Soviets as a member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee. On January 9, 1922, the Presidium of the VTsIK approved V. G. Yakovenko as People's Commissar of Agriculture. See also the next document and this collection, p. 376.

The responses of E. M. Yaroslavsky are given in petit type.

LETTER TO V. M. MOLOTOV

25/XII. 1921

Comrade Molotov!

I request that you put to a vote of all members of the Politburo the resolution to immediately summon Yakovenko to Moscow, charging Chutskaev or another Siberian delegate in the same telegram to insert an order for his temporary replacement¹. The summons is proposed for the purpose of becoming acquainted with him and the possibility of appointing him to the position of People's Commissar. The basis — the review of Teodorovich, already distributed to members of the Politburo, and three reviews from Siberians, which I am enclosing.

Lenin

Dictated over the telephone
Printed from a typescript copy

V. I. Lenin's proposal was adopted by the Politburo of the CC RCP(b) on December 26, 1921.

See also the previous document.

S. E. Chutskaev — Deputy Chairman of the Siberian Revolutionary Committee.

NOTES TO E. A. PREOBRAZHENSKY¹

[December 26, 1921]

[Text continues but appears cut off in the image]

If this is correct, then it's not bad.¹

Couldn't we do 2 things:
1) weekly (monthly for now) to calculate for all of the RSFSR:
   a) the quantity of goods in state possession
   (exchange fund)
   b) the quantity of paper money

2) as an experiment in 1—2 uezds to issue (through cooperative institutions?) exchange vouchers, completely secured by the commodity fund?

(My goal is not "profit for the pocket,"
but experience, experiment.²)

¹ The notes were written, evidently, at the IX All-Russian Congress of Soviets, during the discussion of the question "On the Financial Plan and Budget."
² The reference is to revenues in gold rubles, obtained from emission and from requisitions for 1918—1919 and 1920.
³ Written on a note from E. A. Preobrazhenskii, who wrote to V. I. Lenin: "Vouchers can be issued when there is commodity, and I think they will succeed, but for our pocket there will be little benefit from them for the time being" (underlined by V. I. Lenin. — *Ed.*).

NOTE TO A. I. GUSEВ¹
[December 26, 1921]

Comrade Guseв,

Kalinin informed me that Osinski replied to this: it would be considerably more useful to increase the number of non-Party members in the Central Executive Committee for *practical work*, and everyone approved Osinski's statement.

Lenin

The present document is a response to A. I. Guseв's note, in which he raised the question of the possibility of convening an All-Russian non-Party peasant conference in spring 1922.

LETTER TO G. M. KRZIZHANOVSKY

To Comrade Krzizhanovsky, copy to Comrade Smolyiannikov

I am forwarding to you for your information the review of G. B. Krasin.¹ This review reinforces what I actually wrote to you yesterday.² I fear that convening a conference was strategically an incorrect measure on your part. It would have been more correct to request from solid specialists—2—3 at most for each of the 3 institutions (Gosplan, NKPS, and NTO of the VSNKh)—a written review. The task, in my opinion, consists chiefly of "catching" on inactivity and pedantry those scholars who missed foreign experience. In my view, neither Krasin's review nor this note of mine should be shown to anyone. If your conference does not arrive at an absolutely negative conclusion, then one must think about whom to entrust with carrying out immediate practical execution. I ask you to telephone me about this.

Lenin

27/XII—21

Dictated by telephone
Printed from typewritten copy

¹ Reference is made to the review by engineer G. B. Krasin on A. Belyakov's article "New Ways of Reviving Railway Transport," published in the *Izvestiia of the Central Executive Committee* on December 20, 1921. The author of the article told about the experience of applying diesel locomotives abroad and considered it possible and expedient to make wide use of them on the railways of Soviet Russia. On December 21, V. I. Lenin, in a letter to the editors of *Izvestiia of the Central Executive Committee* and to Belyakov, posed a series of questions which he asked to answer "as precisely as possible" (see Lenin Collection XXXIII, pp. 178—179). At the same time, V. I. Lenin requested reviews from specialists on the article. In his review, G. B. Krasin wrote that "the application of diesel locomotives could probably turn out to be very fruitful."
The question of diesel locomotives was discussed several times at sessions of the Council of Labour and Defence. On March 10, 1922, the Council approved conditions for a competition for the construction of diesel locomotives and authorized the railway mission to order three diesel locomotives from abroad.

² The letter to G. M. Krzizhanovsky dated December 26, 1921, has not been found.

LETTER TO BELA KUN

29/XII [1921]

Comrade Bela Kun!

I received your letter, in which you, as my secretary informs me, ask for acceleration of my article concerning Serrati. Unfortunately, owing to illness, up until now I have not been able to proceed with writing it based on the material which was delivered to me, unfortunately, in excessive abundance.

In all probability, I will not be able to write it by the indicated date.

Scribble a note to Fotieva about how things are going, what you are writing, and how you have arranged the 400 Hungarian Communists who arrived.

Lenin

Dictated by telephone
Printed from typewritten copy

V. I. Lenin did not write a special article on Serrati; Lenin gives a characterization of him in the article "Notes of a Publicist" (see Works, 4th ed., vol. 33, pp. 184—185).

DRAFT THESES "ON THE ROLE AND TASKS OF THE TRADE UNIONS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE NEW ECONOMIC POLICY"¹
[December 28—30, 1921]

1. The New Economic Policy, signifying a new period (and a new turning-point) in the development of the activity of Soviet power, which is implementing the transition from capitalism to socialism, requires also a new consideration of the role and tasks of trade unions and the taking into account in this respect of a series of new circumstances.

(1) the emergence and permitting of capitalism
(2) state enterprises on new bases
(3) the entire transition at a different tempo, through different paths, "a new bypass."

2. 2. Private-commercial, capitalistic enterprises. The defense of the interests of the working class.

5. 3. Defense chiefly not by means of strikes (not at all renouncing them altogether), but by appealing to the organs of the workers' state.

* Points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ad 7: (except the heading), ad 6, 7, 11, and 15 are crossed out.

+ +

3. 4. "Loss-free operation" and "profitability" of state enterprises.
Similarly, the defense of the interests of the working class.

4. 5. The fundamental distinction in class struggle (which exists and will exist so long as classes exist) in a state in which political power is in the hands of the bourgeoisie and in a state in which political power is in the hands of the working class (strikes and their role).

(( full authority to
Management 
\ the management of enterprises.

Personal responsibility and non-interference.

+ production propaganda
+ planned work
from the procurement of raw materials to sales

ad 6. Success requires full authority.

Through factory administrations—and both clothing and all kinds of supply and currency notes and the establishment of the sizes of distributions.

Type—personal responsibility.
Non-interference.

7. Learning to manage.

This is the crux:
(a) Participation in organs.
NB
ad 7
Not a declaration
not "high politics"

(β) Consultative voice.
(γ) Full information and discussion.

(δ) Nomination of candidates, registration, evaluation, their reassignment.

+ (ε) Learning from observation and evaluation of the work of private entrepreneurs.

+ disciplinary comrades' courts
the distribution of supplies
the development (participation in the development) of norms
discussion of lease arrangements.

* — to (the point).
** — disciplinary comrades' courts.

ad 7: The role of trade unions in the economic and state organs of the proletarian state.

(1) Participation in the *composition* of economic and state organs (discussion of candidates; consultative voice)

(2) [Participation] also in these organs (members of collegial bodies, assistants to specialists, and vice versa).

2. (3) The development of administrators from workers
ten good and hundreds passable
hundreds excellent and thousands passable,

(4) Systematic registration and keeping lists of candidates.

3. (5) in particular,—participation in planned organs.
(6) Participation in the discussion by state organs of all questions of industry and questions of the management of industry.

4. (7) Production propaganda.

5. (8) Systematic acquaintance with the entire cycle of industrial work, from the procurement of raw materials to the realization of the product.

6. (9) in particular:
the development of tariffs and norms of supply
disciplinary courts on condition of actual delimitation from the sphere of management, from the role of the Communist Party and Soviet power...

ad 6 (10) disciplinary courts—do not degenerate into general courts.

7. (α) the proletariat = the class support of the state, making the transition from capitalism to socialism.

(β) trade unions = an assistant to state power, guided by the Communist Party, in all its economic work.

(γ) a school of communism and specifically a school of management.

ΣΣ learning to manage. The center of gravity. Not general or high politics (the Communist Party and Soviet power exist for that), but practical, business work, teaching the masses to manage.

* — vice versa.
** — Summa summarum—The general total.

8. The inevitable combination of 2 contradictory functions: ad
(\ persuasion and coercion
14? \ the defense and pressure
| and in a military fashion
\and not in a military fashion/

The contradiction of living life: in it lies the whole crux.

8. 9.* *Connection with the masses.*
= Living in the thick of it.
To know the moods.
To know everything.
To understand the masses.
To know how to approach them.
To win their absolute confidence.
Not to become separated—the leaders from the led masses, the vanguard from the whole army of labour.

ad 8? ad 14?
10. The ability to combine persuasion and coercion.

5 bis?
11. The transition to *voluntary* participation in trade unions.
Rights and duties.
A school of communism:
a transitional stage between complete underdevelopment and the Party.

12. Attitude toward specialists.
Avoid 2 extremes.
Murder and suicide (Oldenburg?).² 
Example. Disgrace.

ad 14?
13. Do not flatter the masses, do not become separated from the masses.

14. Unification,—resolution of conflicts—resolution of contradictions:
/ Communist Party
\ + Comintern
/

15. The renewal of the leading cadre, the transfer of unsuitable persons to other branches.

* The numeral 9 is crossed out.

4 + ?

9: (1) persuasion and coercion...
= (2) defense and pressure...
(3) taking into account prejudices and backwardness—not to indulge nor to flatter, but to elevate...
(4) and in a military fashion—and not in a military fashion...
αα) contradictions of every school: (school of communism)
ββ) — " — of the transitional epoch.
Two practical conclusions: (1) tact (2) Comintern.

10: Trade unions and specialists.
(1) Murder of engineers in the Urals and Donbas.
(2) Suicide of Oldenburg.
(3) The blame lies more with the Communist Party and Soviet power than with the trade unions.
(4) It is not a question of blame.
The most difficult work, the most everyday work falls on the trade unions.
(5) As the apple of the eye—otherwise 0.

11: The exceptional role of petty-bourgeois democracy (Socialist-Revolutionaries and Mensheviks and Anarchists)—the last ideological defenders of capitalism in the trade-union movement.
The main arena of struggle with them, | from among the living.
|

1. The New Economic Policy and unions.
2. State capitalism and professional unions.
3. Economic accounting of state enterprises and trade unions.
4. The fundamental distinction in class struggle in a state with capitalist and in a state with proletarian state power.
5**. The method of defending the class interests of the proletariat.
5. Transition to voluntary participation in trade unions.
6. The attitude of trade unions to the management of enterprises.
7. The role of trade unions in the economic activity of the proletarian state.
8. Connection with the masses of the proletariat, as the chief task and basis of trade unions.
= "A school of communism."
9. The contradictory aspects of the task of trade unions in the transitional epoch from capitalism to socialism.
(8 + 10 + 13)
9. Contradictions in the very position of trade unions under the dictatorship of the proletariat.
10. ad 9. Ways of resolving these contradictions.
11. 10. Trade unions and "specialists."
12. 11. The task of renewing the leadership cadre of the trade unions.

¹ On December 28, 1921, a plenum of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), having discussed the question of trade unions, decided to create a commission consisting of V. I. Lenin, A. A. Andreev, and Ya. E. Rudzutak to consider the theses of Rudzutak and Andreev on the role and tasks of trade unions in carrying out the New Economic Policy; the commission was instructed to prepare a draft resolution and present it for approval to the Politbureau of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on December 31.
V. I. Lenin developed the published draft and wrote the theses "On the Role and Tasks of Trade Unions under the Conditions of the New Economic Policy" (see the following document). These theses formed the basis of the resolution of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) of January 12, 1922, "On the Role and Tasks of Trade Unions under the Conditions of the New Economic Policy" (see V. I. Lenin. Works, 4th ed., vol. 33, pp. 159—170).

² V. V. Oldenburg—chief engineer of the Moscow water supply, subjected to persecution, on December 1, 1921, committed suicide. See also the present collection, p. 395.

TELEPHONE MEMORANDUM TO YA. E. RUDZUTAK, A. A. ANDREEV, AND V. M. MOLOTOV 
FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE POLITBUREAU OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)

Comrades Rudzutak, Andreev, Molotov
(for the members of the Politbureau)

I have begun writing a draft of theses on the trade unions on the basis of the initial sketch by Rudzutak and Andreev. I have drawn up a detailed plan of 12 theses, but I have written only 4 of them so far, because my work is proceeding extremely slowly. I request that the submission of the question to the Politbureau be postponed for several days, as I think there is no particular need to hurry and it would be desirable to discuss the question more systematically. As soon as I, in 3—4 days, or perhaps sooner, complete the first draft, I will send it to the members of the *commission*, and we will agree with them as to whether a meeting is necessary.

Lenin

30/XII—21

Printed from typewritten copy

¹ V. I. Lenin's proposal for postponing consideration of the theses was accepted by the Politbureau of the Central Committee of the RCP(b). On January 4, 1922, V. I. Lenin completed work on the theses on trade unions and transmitted them to the commission (see Lenin Collection XXXV, p. 311). The Politbureau, having discussed on January 12, 1922, the theses on trade unions, adopted as the basis the text proposed by V. I. Lenin.

1922—1923
YEARS

NOTE TO V. M. MOLOTOV FOR THE POLITBUREAU OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)
WITH A DRAFT RESOLUTION

To Comrade Molotov for the Politbureau

In view of the complete inadequacy (or lack of agreement?) of the note in *Pravda* of January 3, 1922, concerning the suicide of Oldenburg and the investigation of this matter,

I propose that the Politbureau resolve:

1) to instruct the Moscow Soviet to petition the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee to bring before the court all the persons indicated in the conclusion of the commission.

2) to instruct the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee to immediately satisfy this petition, and

3) to publish an announcement of this in all the Soviet press.

4) to instruct the People's Commissariat of Justice to conduct this matter with special care and skillfully and impressively (under the personal responsibility of Comrade Kurskii and of the appointed public prosecutor).

5) to instruct the Organizational Bureau to create a special party court. Bring before this court the entire Party cell of the water supply. (Expel part from the Party permanently or for a period; give others a strict reprimand, depending on the degree of guilt.) Conduct the trial impressively, publicly.

6) Directive to *Izvestiia* and *Pravda*: to illuminate this outrageous matter in a series of vigorous articles.

January 4, 1922

Lenin

Another draft resolution:

All cases of murder of engineers (and specialists) at Soviet enterprises should be reported to the Politbureau with the results of investigations (from the VSNKh, the All-Russian Council of Trade Unions, etc., through the Council of Labour and Defence).¹

P.S. The matter is outrageous: one must ring the big bells.

¹ V. I. Lenin's proposals were adopted at a session of the Politbureau of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) on January 5, 1922.
The matter of the suicide of V. V. Oldenburg was tried by the Supreme Tribunal at the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on March 8—14, 1922. The Tribunal sentenced those guilty of persecuting Oldenburg to various punishments.

2474 L

LETTER TO V. M. MOLOTOV
FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE POLITBUREAU OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(b)

January 4, 1922

To Comrade Molotov for the members of the Politbureau

Comrade Preobrazhenskii told me by telephone that he will leave if Krasnoshchekov is appointed Deputy Commissar, and the same opinion is held by the entire collegial body, except, it seems, Sokolnikov. Stalin believes that the decision should be confirmed, but its execution should be delayed until Sokolnikov's return, otherwise Krasnoshchekov might be persecuted. I believe that this danger will remain unless the Politbureau comes out with full force right now against the collegial body and does not carry through to the end the defense and support of Krasnoshchekov. I consider the question to be extremely important, because not only the entire collegial body, but also Preobrazhenskii are making a glaring error in not being able to evaluate the necessity of the comprehensive utilization of a man who, possessing solid experience from work in America and in the Far Eastern Republic, approaches financial questions from the practical side. This is the most important thing. This is precisely what is lacking in Preobrazhenskii and other members of the collegial body. Their entire opposition to Krasnoshchekov is pure and harmful prejudice. Therefore, I would stand for the immediate carrying out of the decision concerning Krasnoshchekov in the Soviet order.¹

Lenin

Dictated by telephone
Printed from typewritten copy

¹ On January 10, 1922, the Council of People's Commissars confirmed A. M. Krasnoshchekov as Deputy Commissar of Finance.